Microsoft Research Silicon Valley labTouchDevelop is a novel application development environment that allows you to script your mobile devices anywhere—you do not need a separate PC. Scripts written by using TouchDevelop can access data, media, and sensors on the phone, tablet, and PC. The script can interact with cloud services, including storage, computing, and social networks.

The workshop provided an overview of this radically new programming language and environment. Researchers from both academia and industry introduced key research challenges associated with TouchDevelop. Educators who use TouchDevelop in their classes shared their unique perspectives, and the TouchDevelop research team presented their vision for the future.

Microsoft Touchdevelop Workshop Contest

On February 14, workshop attendees learned how to create scripts by using TouchDevelop. Participants had the opportunity to enter their scripts in the TouchDevelop Workshop Contest. Entries were reviewed by a panel of distinguished judges and winners were recognized at the workshop dinner.

Prizes:

Grand Prize:

Nokia Lumia 920 running Windows Phone 8

Second Prize:

Xbox 360 console

Third Prize:

Kinect for Windows sensor

The contest was open only to registered workshop attendees who are legal residents of the United States, age 18 or older. Game ended February 15, 2013.